DIY Travel Tambourines: Fun Road Trip Rhythm Makers for Kids!
Get ready for some musical fun with DIY travel tambourines! These delightful, easy-to-make instruments are perfect for keeping little ones entertained on the go, during quiet playtime at home, or even for a spontaneous backyard jam session. Not only are they a blast to create and play with, but they also offer fantastic opportunities for sensory exploration and developing fine motor skills. So, gather your supplies and let's embark on a crafting adventure that will have your kids shaking, rattling, and rolling with joy!
Shaker Jar Tambourine
This classic DIY tambourine is incredibly simple to make and offers a satisfying shaker sound. It’s a fantastic project for even the youngest crafters to help with, as they can assist in filling the jar and decorating it.
Materials:
- Empty, clean plastic containers with lids (yogurt cups, small spice jars, travel-sized shampoo bottles work well)
- Rice, dried beans, small pasta, beads, or pebbles
- Decorating supplies: washable markers, stickers, craft glue, glitter, construction paper, yarn, paint (optional)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Container: Ensure your chosen plastic container is clean and completely dry. If using a yogurt cup, you might want to secure the lid with tape for extra durability.
- Add the Fillings: Let your child choose what they want to put inside their tambourine. Provide small scoops or spoons to help them fill the container about one-quarter to one-third full. This amount will create the best shaking sound.
- Secure the Lid: Tightly screw on the lid of your container. For extra security, especially with younger children who might try to open it, you can wrap a layer of strong tape (like duct tape or packing tape) around the lid and the rim of the container.
- Decorate! This is where the real fun begins! Let your child’s imagination run wild. They can draw directly onto the plastic with washable markers, stick on colorful stickers, glue on pieces of construction paper, or even add yarn for a textured look. If you’re using paint, ensure it’s fully dry before proceeding. Glitter can add a festive sparkle, but be prepared for a little mess!
- Shake it Up! Once the decorations are dry, your shaker jar tambourine is ready to be played! Encourage your child to shake it to their favorite songs or create their own rhythms.
Cardboard Tube Tambourine
Repurpose common household items into a vibrant and engaging tambourine! This activity is great for practicing cutting skills (with adult supervision) and offers a different sound profile compared to the shaker jar.
Materials:
- Cardboard tubes (toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls cut in half)
- Aluminum foil or colorful paper
- Scissors
- Craft glue or tape
- Jingle bells, buttons with large holes, or metal washers
- Yarn or string
- Hole punch
Instructions:
- Prepare the Tube: Cover the entire length of the cardboard tube with aluminum foil or colorful paper. Secure the paper or foil with craft glue or tape, ensuring it’s smooth and completely covered.
- Create the Holes: Decide how many “sound holes” you want on your tambourine. Usually, two or three evenly spaced holes along the tube work well. Use a hole punch to create these openings.
- Add the Jingles: This is where the magic happens! Thread jingle bells, buttons, or washers onto pieces of yarn or string. You’ll want to tie a secure knot at one end so the bells don’t slip off.
- Attach the Jingles: Thread the other end of the yarn or string through the holes you punched in the cardboard tube. Pull the string through so that the bells hang on the outside of the tube. Tie a secure knot on the inside of the tube to prevent them from pulling back out. Repeat for all your holes.
- Decorate and Play: Once the jingles are securely attached, you can further decorate the tube with markers, stickers, or more paper if desired. Then, it’s time to shake, rattle, and roll!
Paper Plate Tambourine
This is a fantastic activity for younger children as it involves minimal cutting and lots of decorating. The two paper plates create a nice, resonant sound when shaken.
Materials:
- Two paper plates (sturdy ones work best)
- Stapler
- Craft glue
- Decorating supplies: markers, crayons, stickers, glitter glue, paint
- Small items for shaking: dried beans, rice, beads, small pebbles
Instructions:
- Decorate One Plate: Let your child decorate one of the paper plates. They can draw patterns, color pictures, or cover it with stickers. This plate will be the "front" of your tambourine.
- Prepare the Second Plate: Take the second paper plate and turn it upside down.
- Add the Fillings: Carefully place a small handful of your chosen filling (dried beans, rice, beads, etc.) onto the center of the upside-down plate. Be careful not to overfill, as this can muffle the sound.
- Join the Plates: Place the decorated plate (right side up) on top of the plate with the fillings, aligning the edges.
- Staple Together: Carefully staple the edges of the two plates together, creating a secure seal. You’ll want to use plenty of staples, spaced about an inch apart, to ensure the fillings don’t escape. You can also reinforce the stapled edge with a strip of colorful tape for added durability.
- Final Touches: Once stapled, you can add a few more decorative touches if you like, perhaps around the stapled edge. Your paper plate tambourine is ready for some musical exploration!
Fabric Scrap Tambourine
For a softer, more textured sound and a wonderfully tactile experience, this fabric scrap tambourine is a winner. It’s also a great way to use up leftover fabric scraps!
Materials:
- Sturdy cardboard (from a cereal box or shipping box)
- Fabric scraps in various colors and textures
- Scissors
- Craft glue or fabric glue
- Jingle bells, buttons, or small wooden beads
- Yarn or string
- Hole punch (optional, depending on how you attach jingles)
Instructions:
- Cut the Cardboard Shape: Cut out a tambourine shape from the sturdy cardboard. A simple circle or a slightly oval shape with a handle cut out works well. Aim for a size that’s easy for little hands to hold.
- Cover with Fabric: Cut fabric scraps into strips or squares. Apply craft glue or fabric glue to the cardboard shape and press the fabric pieces onto it, overlapping them slightly. Cover the entire shape, creating a beautiful patchwork effect. You can also cover the entire shape with one larger piece of fabric if you prefer.
- Add the Jingles: Decide how you want to attach your jingles. You can:
- Punch Holes: Punch small holes around the edge of the cardboard and thread yarn or string through, attaching bells or buttons. Tie secure knots on the back.
- Glue Directly: For lighter items like small wooden beads, you can glue them directly around the edge of the fabric-covered cardboard.
- Fabric Loops: Create small loops of yarn or string, attach bells to them, and then glue or sew these loops onto the edge of the fabric.
- Reinforce the Handle: If you’ve cut out a handle, make sure it’s well-covered with fabric and is sturdy enough for holding. You might want to reinforce it with extra glue or even a small piece of ribbon.
- Let Dry and Play: Allow all the glue to dry completely. Once dry, your fabric scrap tambourine is ready to add a gentle, rhythmic sound to your travels and playtime!
Nature Tambourine
Bring the outdoors in with this charming nature-inspired tambourine! It’s a wonderful way to connect with nature and create a unique, earthy sound.
Materials:
- Sturdy cardboard or a thick paper plate
- Glue (craft glue or hot glue – adult supervision required for hot glue)
- Natural items for decoration and sound: small pebbles, dried leaves, twigs, acorns, small pinecones, dried flower petals
- Optional: Jingle bells, yarn
Instructions:
- Prepare the Base: Cut out a tambourine shape from sturdy cardboard, or use a thick paper plate as your base.
- Create a Handle (Optional): If using cardboard, cut out a handle shape.
- Glue the Natural Items: This is the most exciting part! Let your child select their favorite natural treasures. Apply glue to the cardboard or paper plate and help your child press the natural items onto the surface. You can focus on the edges, create a pattern, or cover the entire surface.
- For sound, pebbles and small twigs will create a lovely rattling effect.
- Dried leaves and flower petals can add visual appeal and a gentle rustling sound.
- Small pinecones can add a unique texture and subtle sound.
- Add Extra Jingles (Optional): If you want a bit more sparkle and sound, you can also incorporate a few jingle bells by gluing them on or tying them with yarn and attaching them to the edges.
- Let it Dry: Allow all the glue to dry thoroughly. This might take longer with natural items as they can be porous.
- Shake and Explore: Once completely dry, your nature tambourine is ready for gentle shaking and exploration of its unique sounds and textures. This is a wonderful instrument for outdoor adventures or for imaginative play indoors.
Tips for Success
- Age Appropriateness: Always tailor the complexity of the activity and the materials to your child's age and developmental stage. For very young children, focus on simpler designs and ensure all materials are non-toxic and too large to be a choking hazard.
- Durability: If your tambourines are intended for travel or rough play, reinforce glued or stapled edges with strong tape. For shaker jars, ensure the lids are tightly secured.
- Sound Exploration: Encourage your child to experiment with different fillings and quantities to discover how they affect the sound. Different materials create different rhythms and volumes!
- Sensory Play: Embrace the tactile experience. Let children feel the textures of the materials as they decorate and play. The act of shaking itself is a great sensory input.
- Cleanliness: For shaker jars, make sure the containers are thoroughly washed and dried before filling.
- Safety First: Always supervise young children during crafting, especially when using scissors, hole punches, or hot glue. Ensure all small embellishments are securely attached to prevent choking hazards.
- Personalization is Key: The most important part is letting your child lead the decoration and design. Their unique creations will be the ones they cherish most.
Conclusion
Creating DIY travel tambourines is more than just a craft project; it’s an invitation to a world of musical discovery and imaginative play. From the satisfying rattle of a shaker jar to the gentle jingle of a fabric scrap creation, these homemade instruments offer endless opportunities for fun and learning. They are perfect companions for car rides, airplane journeys, or simply for adding a rhythmic soundtrack to everyday moments. So, embrace the joy of making, the magic of music, and the delightful sounds your little ones will create with their very own DIY travel tambourines! Happy crafting and happy shaking!
